The Crow Brothers: JET - TULSA - RIVERS - RIDGE

by Scott, S. L.

  As the fans clap, she laughs. A huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders, the doubts she once had are gone. A roadie comes to take my guitar as planned, and then I take Nikki’s hand.

  She’s too happy to hide her smile, but her eyes widen. “What are you doing?”

  I owe Rochelle big time for helping me pull this off. It’s been planned for a while, but she said we could go public the same day I received the rings. I put mine on before coming out on stage.

  Dropping to one knee before my wife, I can tell she knows what’s coming by the tears that form in her eyes. If we wanted to talk, we couldn’t over the cheering echoing around us, so I pause, not waiting for a special moment. We had that in Vegas, just the two of us.

  This is about logistics and making this perfect for her.

  Laird rolls his eyes a lot like his sister does. Shane plays a soft drumroll on the kit while my band, my brothers, join us onstage. Surprisingly, so do Tommy, The Resistance, and all of the roadies, one of which puts a microphone headset on me, so I can be heard. The entire crew is here. That sets off even more screaming. It’s great to have the support of our touring family and friends.

  But when her parents come out with Lauralee, her eyes go wide in surprise. She doesn’t run to them. She stays, turning her attention back to me.

  I take a deep breath, then exhale, feeling calm in her presence. “Nikki, I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. You took my breath away and stole my heart before I realized it’d gone missing. Then you saw me—the real me—through the simple gestures and laughs, long walks and long talks. You opened your heart, but what you didn’t realize is you opened mine as well and taught me what true love is. Thank you for trusting me with your days, your nights, your future, and your life. I will always be grateful to you and forever proud to call you my wife.”

  I’m not sure if everyone in the arena is holding their breath or nothing exists but this perfect woman before me, but I only hear and see her. Her love. Her pride. Her light shining down on me. I say, “I hope I can be the man who makes you proud to call me husband. We’re already married, so I’m not asking for a redo. I’m asking for our friends and families to continue to be a part of our journey and bear witness to the love we have to share with each other. Will you spend your life with me, darlin’?”

  I thought she was used to the spotlight, but I’m thinking she’s right about the costumes we wear out here. Each time she steps out onstage, the fans get the lead singer, the guitarist, the entertainer. Offstage, I get her. She kneels in front of me and hugs me. “Yes. All my days are yours, Tulsa.”

  “And you own all my nights.” I slip the band of diamonds on her finger, and the crowd goes wild.

  * * *

  Austin: After the tour

  Jet steps up into the moving truck and sets a large box down. “Hey, Tulsa, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Berk Cartwright.”

  That’s a name I’d be happy never to hear again. “What about him?”

  “Hannah’s been helping me do some research.”

  “What’d you find?”

  “He has a warrant here in Texas for writing hot checks. There’s a fraud charge against him in Arizona.”

  It’s hot as hell in the back of this truck, but I try to keep my cool. “The band has made a name. We have a successful album on the charts . . . he’s wanted for money issues. Kind of all comes together, doesn’t it?”

  Taking his hat off, he drags his sweaty forehead across his shirtsleeve. “I think we’re seeing the big picture.”

  “Yeah. Seems that way.”

  “We can go down that road with theories of why he’s doing this, but I don’t think we’ll ever know what’s inside his head.”

  “Probably not. I have a feeling honesty isn’t his strong suit.”

  Nikki comes down the driveway with a box in her hands. Jet says, “I’m heading in.” He hops down just as she walks up and hands me the last box. “That’s it,” she says, dusting her hands off like she’s put in a hard day’s work as a mover. It’s three boxes. I’ll give her credit for the second one since it was a little heavier, but the other two weren’t bigger than a boot box.

  Eyeing her fine ass, I know Daisy Duke never wore shorts like those. She bends over to tug at the top of one of her boots. Brown boots with blue stitching that, apparently, Sassie helped her pick out with me in mind. Add in the braids dipping out from under my favorite ball cap—vintage Astros—and a T-shirt knotted at her waist, and she’s a walking fantasy.

  She pulls a lollipop from her pocket and pops it in her mouth. It’s a sight I’ll never get tired of. But, man, it does things to me.

  I jump down from the back of the moving truck and take her by the hand, spinning her once, and then back again. We begin to dance, slowly, and then move into a two-step she’s mastered.

  The way her dark gray shirt hugs her tits is very distracting, but every time I read the orange printing on the front, I laugh. “Drinks swell with others.” I’ve seen it before, but it’s become one of my favorites she wears. Not just for how it fits her body, but for how it also fits her personality. Everyone loves her and loves to bask in her happy glow.

  I play a part in her happiness, but she’s really come into her own since the tour ended. Having spent the past week in Austin, we’ve had endless hours, and all of our nights, together. “I like this shirt on you.”

  Tugging twice at my sleeve, she says, “I love this shirt off you.”

  “Good.” I steal a kiss from her sticky lips. “You ready to hit the road?”

  “I’m ready to start our new life together in California.”

  “C’mon. Let’s go say goodbye.”

  We walk up the path to Jet’s house and enter through the open door. Hannah’s packing a cooler in the kitchen, and Alfie’s sitting in the middle of the empty living room floor playing a video game. I squat next to him and rub the top of his hair. “Whatcha playin’?”

  “Chicken Wiggle.”

  “Sounds fun. Are you going to be a good boy for your dad and mom?”

  He nods and lies down on the carpet, staring up at me. “Why can’t I go with you and Aunt Nikki?”

  “Your Aunt Nikki and I are driving. It’s gonna take us more than a day to get to LA. So, while you’re settling into your cool new house, we’ll still be on the road.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  Nikki laughs from behind me. She lies down next to him on the floor and looks up at me. With their heads bumped together, I get a flash of my future—my kids with her.

  My chest tightens, and I’m overcome with a need to protect. And I get it. I understand and respect Jet even more because at nineteen, he sacrificed everything for us. He never complained. He simply gave. He protected us. I’ll follow in his footsteps and continue to love and protect Nikki, and the family we’ll have as well.

  Though most of the furniture is old and staying, Rivers decided to stay here a while to figure out his next step. Jet’s new home has room for him when we start recording again, but for now, he’s choosing Austin.

  We all know there’s more to it, but that’s for him to work out in his own time. Jet comes in the room with Rivers carrying Alfie’s bedframe. The kid doesn’t want to part with his bed, so it’s going.

  I take it in—the chatter, the digs, the laughter, the smiles, their faces. This is my family.

  Every person I care about and love is here, helping each other out as our lives change in new ways while moving in new directions. Hell, even Ridge is here. I shrug when I see him. The name’s grown on me.

  I offer a hand to my little buddy and pull him to his feet. “Your mama needs you with that special cargo she’s carrying. Promise me you’ll carry your own bag and help her with hers once you get to the airport.”

  “I will, Uncle Tulsa.” He wraps his arms around my neck, and I hug the little guy.

  “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” He runs off to help Jet with the moving truck.
/>   Still squatting down, I turn my attention to the sexy woman lying on the floor looking like she could use some company. I ask, “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for trouble. Do you know where I might find some?” Fuck, do I ever. When she puts on a Southern accent, my dick reacts.

  I pull her to her feet and take her into my arms. “You found it, darlin’.”

  * * *

  Los Angeles: A few months later

  Violet Rain Crow

  Jet and Hannah’s seven pounds seven ounces sweet baby came racing into the world a week early.

  Named for The City of the Violet Crown, a nickname for Austin dating back to 1890, according to Hannah. Sticking with tradition—her first name was chosen for where she was conceived. Rain was chosen to honor our mother, both of them sharing the same middle name.

  Sweet Violet Rain. There will be plenty of Prince jokes, but as I hold my brand-new-to-the-world niece in my arms, I have nothing but love for this little bundle of perfect joy.

  Nikki moves in front of us and boops her little nose before booping mine. I know this is Jet’s daughter, but I can’t help but want this—all of it—the wife, the kids, the house, the whole package. “I want this with you.” I see a tear slip down her cheek and reach to wipe it away. “Don’t cry.”

  “I used to be carefree and did what I wanted. I never thought about the future. I lived in the present, but I want this too.” Hearing that she wants the same things—to build a life and start a family . . . it’s more than I ever dreamed of. She reaches up and wipes my tear away. “I want this life with you, Tulsa.”

  Taking her hand, I kiss her palm and then hold it against my cheek. “I promise to give you everything you ever want.”

  “I promise to give you everything you ever need.”

  Rivers coughs and then clears his throat, making Jet and Hannah laugh. Reaching between us, he asks, “Can I hold the baby now?”

  I hand the baby to her other uncle, who flew in from Austin last night, and then wrap my arm around my wife’s shoulders. Pulling her close, I rub her stomach while whispering in her ear, “I’m going to put a baby in here.”

  Her hand rubs over my abs, which I tighten for her. “Keep grinning like that and I might just let you.”

  “You never could resist me.”

  “Remember that time I called you a pig?”

  “Eh, you didn’t mean it. If you did, you wouldn’t be here now.”

  I get jabbed in the ribs. “True,” she finally concedes with a smile.

  When we leave the happy family at the hospital, we return to her apartment. Two more months until the lease is up. Nikki sits at the table and pulls up a real estate website. “Let’s start now.”

  Coming around behind her, I move her hair to one side and start kissing her spine.

  We might be talking about two different things, but we’re on the same page. When she lets a little moan of pleasure escape, I scoop her up and take her into the bedroom. “Yes, let’s start now.”

  Epilogue

  Tulsa

  On an island in the Maldives

  I fucked my way through the states all right.

  It just happened to be with my wife.

  I never saw Nikki Faris coming, but now that she’s in my life, I’m never letting her go.

  Faris Wheel finished their album last week. Coming off the tour and the move to California, the timing was tight, but with the high praise from the tour, it was best to wrap it up and get it out.

  The first single, “Sleepless,” released this week. Nikki’s song, our song, releases in three weeks. I couldn’t be prouder of my wife for scoring that spot on the record and to have it placed in the front push of marketing.

  We renewed our vows in front of our families and friends under an arbor of flowers in Ojai. The Outlaw’s property gave us the peace we wanted from the media circus our lives have become. A few helicopters flew over but soon left us alone to enjoy our night under the stars, dancing, singing, playing guitars, and drums, drinking, eating, and loving every minute of the celebration and our lives.

  I finally feel like we’re beginning our lives together.

  The Outlaws gifted us the use of the private jet for our honeymoon. The morning after the reception, we fell into bed in the plane’s bedroom, nursed our hangovers, made love, and slept.

  Nikki looked out the window as we flew over the Indian Ocean. My surprise was worth the look on her face—pure happiness. Turning to me, she said, “You sure know how to woo a girl.”

  “I promised to make up for all the shit we had to go through to get here.” She knows what I mean.

  She pulls me close with her hands around my neck. With our noses almost touching, she whispers, “The past is in the past. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I cannot wait to honeymoon with you.”

  I thought I was livin’ and lovin’ life before we met, but it pales in comparison to my life now. It’s funny how that works. I never thought life could get better, but then along came Nikki to prove me wrong.

  I used to think people only wanted one thing from me, so I gave it to them, but she saw more in me. Sure, it took a little time and effort to win her heart. She didn’t fall at my feet, but I won her over with love and goodness soon enough. When she shined her light on me, I shined mine right back on her. Together, we warmed our world and found peace in each other’s arms.

  It’s not all lovey-dovey stuff. I still catch Nikki staring at me. What’s not to love about a great face, tight abs, cut biceps, and workin’ what the good Lord gave me?

  Some of the time, I watch Nikki sleep. She draws me in, easing a once restless soul. I’m still not sure what I did to deserve her, but I’ll spend my life making damn sure I’m worthy of this gift.

  I don’t keep secrets from my wife, but I’ve been debating about one from the night of our reception. I think Laird and Lauralee are hooking up. I’m not positive, like I didn’t witness them actually fucking, buuuut he was tucking the shirt to his tux back in when he left the bathroom, and when I tried to use it, it was occupied . . . by Lauralee. She walked out, poked me in the chest, and told me to keep my trap shut. I sent her a dick kit the next day and made sure to mention it was for use when Laird is touring.

  The next day, I received a text from her with a video clip of the horse’s head in The Godfather. The girl’s got a sense of humor, albeit a little dark. She’s feisty like Nikki. I can see why they’re friends.

  Only a day after arriving in paradise, Nikki has already tortured me by doing naked yoga this morning. She got as far as downward dog before I downward dogged her from behind.

  I think she’s trying to kill me on this trip by sunbathing nude on the deck over the clear turquoise water for the past hour. I don’t know whether to appreciate the view or keep the binoculars glued to my eyes to make sure no one else can see her. I’ve been given plenty of eye-rolls and reminded that this is an exclusive resort. No one can see us in our ultra-private bungalow since there aren’t any other bungalows in sight, but I still want her all to myself.

  It’s glorious here, like our own private haven.

  Wearing shorts because I’m not taking the risk and frying my willy, I sit up from the chair where I’ve been staring at my wife. She’s stunning. It’s hard not to stare. I’m pulled away from my favorite thing to do when an email pops up, dinging on the laptop a few feet away. Her eyes never open when she says, “Don’t check it. Stay here with me.”

  “Aren’t you curious?”

  She knows what I’m talking about, though she plays it cool. “Nope.”

  Three.

  Two.

  One.

  “Damn it. I am.” Blue eyes that are prettier than any ocean below or sky above find me. That sweet smile I love so much follows. “Will you check for me?” she replies, sitting up. Her perfect tits give me two fantastic reasons to stay exactly where I am. The show’s over when she pulls her bikini top up to cover her breasts, so I stand and go inside.

&
nbsp; When I see the screen, it’s my email that’s up, not hers, and the sender’s name catches my attention—Rivers Crow. Clicking on the email, I start to read, but Nikki asks, “Is it the new song?”

  “No. Sorry. Guess I forgot to log out earlier.”

  “Why do you look like that? What is it?”

  Glancing at her, I chuckle. “Like what?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. Intense?”

  “I have an email from Rivers, which is unexpected.”

  “What does it say?”

  I sit on the bed and read the email aloud. “Hey, bro, hope you’re enjoying the time off. I found the box Jet had of Mom’s. It was in his attic behind a box of her old dishes. I thought this was worth sending over.”

  Why am I suddenly on edge?

  She nudges my knee with hers. “Keep reading.”

  “I found this photo with a handful of others from when Mom was little. I know you don’t need proof of anything. Not to us or yourself, but I thought you still might enjoy it. Open the attachment before you finish reading the email.”

  Nikki sits behind me, pressing her cheek to my arm. When the attachment opens, we see a dated photo. “Aw,” she says, “that’s so cute.” Leaning in, she tries to get a better look at it and then touches the screen. “Oh, my God, Tulsa. The little boy is just so much like you. I would swear I was looking at a photo of you and a little girl.”

  I’m already smiling when I reply, “Yes, it does. Just like me.”

  “Who is it?”

  “That’s my mom and my uncle Brian when they were little.”

  She keeps staring at the photo. “Babe, that looks just like you from the other photos.”